3-Amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxides and processes for their preparation

ABSTRACT

1,2,4-Benzotriazines-1,4-di-N-oxides having an amino compound in the 3-position, preferably with a further substituent in one or both of the 6- and 7-positions, are antimicrobial agents. The compounds, of which 6-chloro-3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-diN-oxide and 7-chloro-3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide are typical examples, are prepared through treatment of the appropriately substituted benzofuroxan with cyanamide under basic conditions followed by acidification.

United States Patent Ley et al.

[ Feb. 25, 1975 3-AMINO-1,2,4-BENZOTRIAZINE-1,4-DI-N- OXIDES AND PROCESSES FOR THEIR PREPARATION [75] Inventors: Kurt Ley, Odenthal-Glofbusch;

Florin Seng, Schildgen; Karl George Metzger, Wuppertal-Elberfeld, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft,

Leverkusen, Germany 22 Filed: Jan. 24, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 326,389

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 1, 1972 Germany 2204574 [52] US. Cl. 260/249.5, 424/249 [51] Int. Cl C07d 55/10 [58] Field of Search 260/2495 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,226,387 12/1965 Newbold et al 260/2495 X OTHER PUBLICATIONS Mason et al., J. of the Chemical Soc., (B), 1970(5), pp. 911-916.

Primary ExaminerJohn M. Ford [57] ABSTRACT 31 Claims, N0 Drawings OXIDES AND PRUCE SSES FOR THEIR PREPARATION DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention pertains to the novel compounds of the formula:

'l fli a \bA wherein one of R and R is hydrogen, halogeno, lower alkyl, halo(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, carbamyl, sulfonamido, carboxy or carbo(lower alkoxy) and the other of R and R is halogeno, lower alkyl, halo(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, carbamyl, sulfonamido, carboxy or carbo(lower alkoxy).

The foregoing compounds demonstrate antimicrobial activity and are useful in combatting, both prophylactically and therapeutically, infections of microbiological origin.

The term lower alkyl denotes a univalent saturated branched or straight hydrocarbon chain containing from I to 6 carbon atoms. Representative of such lower alkyl groups are thus methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec.butyl, tert.butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, tert.pentyl, hexyl, and the like.

The term lower alkoxy denotes a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain bound to the remainder of the molecule through an ethereal oxygen atoms as, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, isobutoxy, pentoxy and hexoxy.

The term halogen denotes the substituents fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.

A preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a compound of the formula:

\iyk

wherein R is a radical in the 6- or 7-position of the benzene ring and is selected from the group consisting of halogeno, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy including isomeric mixtures thereof with the proviso that the R substituents in the said mixture are identical.

The present invention also embraces the method of combatting microbial infections in animals through administration of pharmaceutical copositions in which a pharmaceutical carrier is combined with an antimicrobially effective amount of a compound of the formula:

wherein R is hydrogen, halogeno, lower alkyl, halo(- lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, carbamyl, sulfonamido, carboxy or carbo(lower alkoxy) and R is hydrogen, halogeno, lower alkyl, halo(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, carbamyl, sulfonamido, carboxy or carbo(lower alkoxy).

The compounds of Formula IA are also useful in livestock growth promoting compositions in which the compound is combined with an edible, fodder compatible carrier.

While it has been reported that condensation of onitroaniline and cyanamide with subsequent hydrogen peroxide oxidation of the reaction product yields 3- amino-benzo-l,2,4-triazine-di-N-oxide; see eg Mason et al., J. Chem. Soc., London, B I970, 91 1, this process suffers from a number of disadvantages. Thus the product of the condensation has to be oxidized with hydrogen peroxide, which entails relatively high risks, especially in an industrial process, and produces the product in poor purity and yield. The compound itself appears to be largely of academic interest and no use is known for it.

The compounds of, and utilized in, the present invention are on the other hand advantageously prepared through the reaction of a benzofuroxan of the formula:

and in which each of R and R is hydrogen, halogeno,

ethyl ether, dioxane and tetrahydrofuran and liquid amides such as dimethylformamide can be employed. Water and mixtures of these organic solvents with water, can also be used. The cyanamide or cyanamide salt can be in any desired form, but is preferably employed as an aqueous solution containing for example 50% by weight of cyanamide. Salts of cyanamide which include the alkali metal salts and alkaline earth metal salts, such as calcium, sodium and potassium salts, can be used. The use of disodium cyanamide is particularly preferred. When free cyanamide is employed, the reaction is performed in the presence of an inorganic and organic base or mixtures thereof such as the alkali metal alcoholates of lower alkanols, as for example sodium methoxide, potassium ethoxide and potassium tbutoxide. Examples of inorganic bases include the oxides, hydroxides and carbonates of such alkali metals and alkaline earth metals as calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium; e.g., calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate. Preferred organic bases are quaternary ammonium hydroxides, as for example trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide and tetramethylammonium hydroxide. When the salts of cyanamide are used, the addition of a base is not necessary. The reaction is carried out at temperatures of from about to about 180C, preferably from about to about 100C, and generally from about 20 to about 70C. The reaction can be performed at elevated pressure but in general, normal pressures are used. From 1 to 10, especially 1.5 to 5, moles of cyanamide salt are employed per 1 mole of benzofuroxan. When free cyanamide is used, at least a stoichiometric amount of base is added. The process of the invention is typically carried out as follows. The benzofuroxan is suspended or dissolved in the solvent and the cyanamide salt, or cyanamide and base are added. After warming, if necessary, the salt of the desired 3-aminobenzo-l,2,4-triazine-di-N-oxide in most cases precipitates and can be isolated in the customary manner, as for example by filtration. Acidification of the isolated salt, or the reaction mixture if the salt does not precipitate, with an organic acid or inorganic aqueous acid such as for example acetic acid, hydrogen halide such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic and hydriodic acid; sulfuric acid and the like, liberates the final product which is isolated by conventional methods, as for example by filtration. The product may also be purified in the customary manner, such as by recrystallization. Dimethylformamide is a suitable recrystallization solvent.

The benzofuroxan starting material is symmetrical with regard to the 5- and 6-positions and thus the S- substituted starting materials are identical with the 6- substituted compounds. If the benzofuroxan carries a substituent in one of the 5- or 6-positions or different substituents in the 5-position and 6-position, two isomers are obtained, one in which one substituent is in the 6-position and the other in the 7-position and a second in which the substituents are reversed in the 6- and 7-positions.

The isomer mixture can, if desired, be separated into their isomers through conventional techniques, as for example by chromatography but since both isomers demonstrate equivalent antimicrobial activity, there is no need to perform this step.

The compounds thus produced display strong antibacterial effects. Their effectiveness extends both to Gram positive and to Gram negative bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae, as for example Escherichia such as Escherichia coli; Klebsiella such as Klebsiella pneumoniae; proteus such as Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus morganii and Proteus rettgeri; Salmonella, especially Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis; Pseudomonadaceae such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Aeromonas such as Aeromonas Iiquefaciens; C lostridia such as Clostria'ium botulinum and Clostridium tetani; Micrococcaceae such as Staphylococcus aureus and staphylococcus epidermidis; streptococcaceae such as streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus faecalis (Enterococcus); and Mycoplasmataceae such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma arthritidis; Mycobacteraceae such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae.

The excellent and broad anti-bacterial activity of these compounds permits their use in the prevention and treatment of systemic and local bacterial infections in animals in both human and veterinary medicine. The compounds can also be used as fodder additives for promoting the growth and improving the fodder utilization in animal husbandry, especially in raising livestock such as for example, cattle, pigs, poultry and the like where they are administered via the fodder or drinking water or in fodder concentrates and in vitamins and/or preparations containing mineral salts. Mixing with the fodder or the fodder concentrates and the remaining fodder preparations is optionally carried out in the form of a premix.

The present invention also comprises pharmaceutical compositions which contain a major or minor amount, e.g. from to 0.5%, of at least one 3-amino-l,2,4- benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide of Formula IA in combination with pharmaceutical carrier, the carrier comprising one or more solid, semi-solid or liquid diluent, filler and formulation adjuvant which is nontoxic, inert and pharmaceutically acceptable. Such pharmaceutical compositions are preferably in dosage unit form; i.e. physically discrete units containing a predetermined amount of the drug corresponding to a fraction or multiple of the dose which is calculated to produce the desired therapeutic response. The dosage units can contain one, two, three, four or more single doses or, atternatively, one-half, third or fourth of a single dose. A single dose preferably contains an amount sufficient to produce the desired therapeutic effect upon administration at one application of one or more dosage units according to a predetermined dosage regimen, usually a whole, half, third or quarter of the daily dosage administered once, twice, three or four times a day. Other therapeutic agents can also be present.

Although the dosage and dosage regimen must in each case be carefully adjusted, utilizing sound pofessional judgment and considering the age, weight and condition of the recipient, the route of administration and the nature and gravity of the illness, generally the daily dose will be from about 5 to about mg/kg and more commonly from about 25 to about 75 mg/kg of body weight. In some instances a sufficient therapeutic effect can be obtained at a lower dose while in others, a larger dose will be required.

Oral administration can be effected utilizing solid and liquid dosage unit forms such as powders, tablets,

dragees, capsules, granulates, suspensions, solutions and the like.

Powders are prepared by comminuting the compound to a suitable fine size and mixing with a similarly comminuted pharmaceutical carrier such as an edible carbohydrate as for example starch, lactose, sucrose, glucose or mannitol. Sweetening, flavoring, preservative, dispersing and coloring agents can also be present.

Capsules are made by preparing a powder mixture as described above and filling formed gelatin sheaths. Glidants and lubricants such as colloidal silica, talc, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate or solid polyethylene glycol can be added to the powder mixture before the filling operation. A disintegrating or solubilizing agent such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate or sodium carbonate can also be added to improve the availability of the medicament when the capsule is ingested.

Tablets are formulated for example by preparing a powder mixture, granulating or slugging, adding a lubricant and disintegrant and pressing into tablets. A powder mixture is prepared by mixing the compound, suitably comminuted, with a diluent or base as described above, and optionally with a binder such as carboxymethyl cellulose, an alginate, gelatin, or polyvinyl pyrrolidone, a solution retardant such as paraffin, a resorption accelerator such as a quaternary salt and/or an absorption agent such as bentonite, kaolin or dicalcium phosphate. The powder mixture can be granulated by wetting with a binder such as syrup, starch paste, acacia mucilage or solutions of cellulosic or polymeric materials and forcing through a screen. As an alternative to granulating, the powder mixture can be run through the tablet machine and the resulting imperfectly formed slugs broken into granules. The granules can be lubricated to prevent sticking to the tablet forming dies by means of the addition of stearic acid, a stearate salt, talc or mineral oil. The lubricated mixture is then compressed into tablets. The medicaments can also be combined with free flowing inert carriers and compressed into tablets directly without going through the granulating or slugging steps. A clear or opaque protective coating consisting of a sealing coat of shellac, a coating of sugar or polymeric material and a polish coating of wax can be provided. Dyestuffs can be added to these coatings to distinguish different unit dosages.

Oral fluids such as solutions, syrups and elixirs can be prepared in dosage unit form so that a given quantity contains a predetermined amount of the compound. Syrups can be prepared by dissolving the compound in a suitably flavored aqueous sucrose solution while elixirs are prepared through the use ofa nontoxic alcoholic vehicle. Suspensions can be formulated by dispersing the compound in a nontoxic vehicle. Solubilizers and emulsifiers such as ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols and polyoxyethylene sorbitol esters, preservatives, flavor additives such as peppermint oil or saccharin, and the like can also be added.

Where appropriate, dosage unit formulations for oral administration can be microencapsulated. The formulation can also be prepared to prolong or sustain the release as for example by coating or embedding particulate material in polymers, wax or the like.

Parenteral administration can be effected utilizing liquid dosage unit forms such as sterile solutions and suspensions intended for subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injection. These are prepared by suspending or dissolving a measured amount of the compound in a nontoxic liquid vehicle suitable for injection such as an aqueous of oleaginous medium and sterilizing the suspension or solution. Alternatively a measure amount of the compound is placed in a vial and the vial and its contents are sterilized and sealed. An accompanying vial or vehicle can be provided for mixing prior to administration. Nontoxic salts and salt solutions can be added to render the injection isotonic. Stabilizers, preservatives and emulsifiers can also be added,

Rectal administration can be effected utilizing suppositories in which the compound is admixed with low melting water soluble or insoluble solids such as polyethylene glycol, cocoa butter, higher esters as for example myristyl palmitate, or mixtures thereof.

Topical administration can be effected utilizing solid dosage unit forms such as powders or liquid or semiliquid dosage unit forms such as solutions, suspensions, ointments, pastes, creams and gels. The powders are formulated utilizing such carriers as talc, bentonite, silicic acid, polyamide powder and the like. Liquid and semiliquid formulations can utilize such carriers, in addition to those described above, as polyethylene glycol, vegetable and mineral oils, alcohols such as isopropanol and the like. Other excipients such as emulsifiers, preservatives, colorants, perfumes and the like can also be present. Formulations can also be administered as an aerosol, utilizing the usual propellants such as the chlorofluorohydrocarbons The antimicrobial activity of these compounds can be conveniently observed in in vitro and in vivo models. For example, their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) can be determined in the plate test on a complete nutrient base of the following composition: 10 g of proteose-peptone, 10 g of veal infusion, 2 g of dextrose, 3 g of sodium chloride, 2 g of disodium phosphate, l g of sodium acetate, 0.01 g of adenine sulfate, 0.01 g of guanine hydrochloride, 0.01 g of uracil, 0.01 g of xantine, 12 g of agar-agar and 1 litre of water. With an incubation temperature of 37C and an incubation time of 24 hours, the following typical values can be observed:

MlC in y/ml of Nutrient Medium Compound Compound A 3-amino-l,2.4-benzotriazine-l ,4-di-N-oxide Compound B isomeric mixture of fi-chloroand 7-chloro-3-amino l .ZA-henzotriazincl ,4-di-Noxidc Compound C isomeric mixture of o-methoxy and 7-mcthoxy-3-amino-l ,2,4-bcnzotriazincl ,4-di-N-0xide The above in vitro data are confirmed in in vivo infections. Thus subcutaneous administration to white mice 15 minutes before intraperitoneal infection gives ED 24 hours later of 20 and 25 mg/kg for compounds A and C, respectively, against E. coli C and 250 and 40 mg/kg for compounds B and C, respectively, against Staphylococcus aureus 133.

The following examples will serve to further typify the nature of the present invention without being a limitation on the scope thereof.

EXAMPLE 1 To a suspension of 13.6 g (0.1 mol) of benzofuroxan in a mixture of 40 ml of methanol and 40 ml of water at approximately 20C are added in portions 17.2 g (0.2 mol) of disodium cyanamide. 1n the course of addition, the temperature rises to about 5060C and the solution assumes a blue-violet color. It is stirred for a further 40 minutes at about 60C and the precipitate which separates out is then removed by filtration from the mother liquor, which is retained and processed further, as described below. The precipitate is dissolved in water, the solution is filtered and the filtrate is acidified with acetic acid, whereupon 12.5 g of 3-amino-1,2,4- benzotriazine-l,4-di-N oxide (71% of theory) separates out in the form of reddish-golden crystals which melt, with decomposition, at 220C.

Analysis: C 11,,N O (178). Calculated: C 47.3%; H 3.4%; N 31.47:. Found: C 47.2%; H 4.0%; N 30 1%.

On acidifying the mother liquor with acetic acid, a further 3.2 g (18% of theory) of 3-amino-l,2,4- benzotriazine-l ,4-di-N-oxide are obtained and after recrystallization from dimethylformamide this material melts, with decomposition at 220C.

Total yield: 89% of theory.

EXAMPLE 2 In a fashion analogous to that set forth in Example 1, 5-chlorobenzofuroxan is allowed to react with disodium cyanamide to yield a mixture of 6-chloro and 7- chloro-3-amino-1 ,2,4-benzotriazine-1 ,4-di-N-oxide in the form of red crystals, mp. 280C (dec).

EXAMPLE 3 In a fashion analogous to that set forth in Example 1, 5-methylbenzofuroxan is allowed to react with disodium cyanamide to yield a mixture of 6-methy1 and 7- methyl-3-amino-l,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide in the form of brown-red crystals. mp. 145C (dec).

EXAMPLE 4 In a fashion analogous to that set forth in Example 1, S-methoxybenzofuroxan is allowed to react with disodium cyanamide to yield a mixture of 6-methoxy and 7-methoxy-3-amino-l,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N- oxide in the form of red crystals, mp. 220C (dec).

EXAMPLE 5 In a fashion analogous to that set forth in Example 1, 5-ethoxybenzofuroxan is allowed to react with disodium cyanamide to yield a mixture of 6-ethoxy and 7- ethoxy-3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine-l ,4-di-N-oxide in the form of orange-red crystals, mp. 202C (dec).

EXAMPLE 6 In a similar fashion, utilizing 5,6-dimethylbenzofuroxan and 5,6-dichlorobenzofuroxan, there are respectively obtained 3-amino-6,7-dimethyl-1,2,4- benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide and 3-amino-6,7- dichloro-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide.

Likewise the following S-substituted benzofuroxans can be employed to yield a mixture of the corresponding 6- and 7-substituted 3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine- 1,4-di-N-oxides:

S-ethylbenzofuroxan S-fiuorobenzofuroxan S-bromobenzofuroxan 5-carbonamidobenzofuroxan 5-carboxybenzofuroxan 5-sulfonamidobenzofuroxan 5-(pentafluoroethyl)benzofuroxan 5-(dichloromethyl)benzofuroxan, and 5-(dichlorofluoromethyl)benzofuroxan.

Similarly benzofuroxans which are disubstituted by different groups can be analogously utilized. Thus 5- chloro-6-methylbenzofuroxan, S-methoxy-6- bromobenzofuroxan and 5-ethoxy-6- methylbenzofuroxan respectively yield an isomeric mixture of 3-amino-6-chloro-7-methy1-l,2,4- benzotriazine-l,4-di-N-oxide and 3-amino-6-methyl-7- chloro-l ,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide; an isomeric mixture of 3-amino-6-methoxy-7-bromo-1.2.4- benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide and 3-amino-6-bromo-7- methoxy-1,2,4-benzotriazine-l,4-di-N-oxide; and an isomeric mixture of 3-amino-6-ethoxy-7-methy1-l.2.4- benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide and 3 -amino-6-methyl-7- ethoxy-l ,2,4-benzotriazinel ,4-di-N-oxi'c1e.

The growth promoting activity of the new compounds and their effectiveness in improving the fodder utilisation may be illustrated by the following data:

Test animals: chicken (kept in cages, with complete fodder and water ad libitum) The active ingredient is mixed in a finely divided form to the fodder according to customary methods. The tests were performed with 12 animals in each tested group. Active ingredient: compound of Example 4 Concentration of the active ingredient in the fodder: 10 PPM (by weight) What is claimed is:

1. An isomeric mixture of a compound of the formula:

ft r

6. Process for the preparation of a compound of the formula:

wherein R is hydrogen, halogeno, lower alkyl, halo(- lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, carbamyl, sulfonamido, carboxy or carbo(lower alkoxy) and R is hydrogen, halogeno, lower alkyl, halo(1ower alkyl), lower alkoxy, carbamyl, sulfonamido, carboxy or carbo (lower alkoxy), which comprises treating a benzofuroxan of the formula:

g R. /\0 13 u/ wherein R and R are as above defined with cyanamide in the presence of a base or with a salt of cyanamide and acidifying the product thereby formed.

7. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R is hydrogen and the other is halogeno, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy.

8. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R is hydrogen and the other is chloro, methyl. methoxy or ethoxy.

9. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R is hydrogen and the other is chloro.

10. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R is hydrogen and the other is methyl.

11. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R is hydrogen and the other is methoxy.

12. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R is hydrogen and the other is ethoxy.

13. A process according to claim 6 wherein R and R are each methyl.

14. A process according to claim 6 wherein R and R are each chloro.

15. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R is chloro and the other is methyl.

16. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R is bromo and the other is methoxy.

17. A process according to claim 6 wherein one or R and R is methyl and the other is ethoxy.

18. A process according to claim 6 wherein the cyanamide or cyanamide salt is in aqueous solution.

19. A process according to claim 18 wherein the aqueous solution contains 50% by weight cyanamide.

20. A process according to claim 6 wherein the cyanamide salt is an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt.

21. A process according to claim 6 wherein the cyanamide salt is a calcium, sodium or potassium salt.

22. A process according to claim 6 wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of disodium cyanamide.

23. A process according to claim 6 wherein the base is an alkali methyl alcoholate of a lower alkanol, an oxide, hydroxide or carbonate of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, or a quaternary ammonium hydroxide.

24. A process according to claim 6 wherein the base is sodium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, potassium t.-butoxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide or tetramethylammonium hydroxide.

25. A process according to claim 6 wherein the reaction temperature is from 0 C to 180 C.

26. A process according to claim 6 wherein the reaction temperature is from 10 C to l00 C.

27. A process according to claim 6 wherein the reaction temperature is from 20 C to C.

28. A process according to claim 6 wherein l to 10 moles of cyanamide salt are used per mole of benzofuroxan.

zofuroxan.

30. A process according to claim 6 which comprises treating a benzofuroxan with cyanamide in the presonce of at least the stoichiometric amount of a base.

31. A process according to claim 6 wherein the reaction is carried out in a suitable solvent. 

1. AN ISOMERIC MIXTURE OF A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA
 2. An isomeric mixture of 6-ethoxy-3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide and 7-ethoxy-3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide.
 3. An isomeric mixture of 3-amino-6-chloro-7-methyl-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide and 3-amino-6-methyl-7-chloro-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide.
 4. An isomeric mixture of 3-amino-6-methoxy-7-bromo-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide and 3-amino-6-bromo-7-methoxy-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide.
 5. An isomeric mixture of 3-amino-6-ethoxy-7-methyl-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide and 3-amino-6-methyl-7-ethoxy-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-di-N-oxide.
 6. Process for the preparation of a compound of the formula:
 7. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R1 is hydrogen and the other is halogeno, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy.
 8. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R1 is hydrogen and the other is chloro, methyl, methoxy or ethoxy.
 9. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R1 is hydrogen and the other is chloro.
 10. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R1 is hydrogen and the other is methyl.
 11. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R1 is hydrogen and the other is methoxy.
 12. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R1 is hydrogen and the other is ethoxy.
 13. A process according to claim 6 wherein R and R1 are each methyl.
 14. A process according to claim 6 wherein R and R1 are each chloro.
 15. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R1 is chloro and the other is methyl.
 16. A process according to claim 6 wherein one of R and R1 is bromo and the other is methoxy.
 17. A process according to claim 6 wherein one or R and R1 is methyl and the other is ethoxy.
 18. A process according to claim 6 wherein the cyanamide or cyanamide salt is in aqueous sOlution.
 19. A process according to claim 18 wherein the aqueous solution contains 50% by weight cyanamide.
 20. A process according to claim 6 wherein the cyanamide salt is an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt.
 21. A process according to claim 6 wherein the cyanamide salt is a calcium, sodium or potassium salt.
 22. A process according to claim 6 wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of disodium cyanamide.
 23. A process according to claim 6 wherein the base is an alkali methyl alcoholate of a lower alkanol, an oxide, hydroxide or carbonate of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, or a quaternary ammonium hydroxide.
 24. A process according to claim 6 wherein the base is sodium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, potassium t.-butoxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide or tetramethylammonium hydroxide.
 25. A process according to claim 6 wherein the reaction temperature is from 0* C to 180* C.
 26. A process according to claim 6 wherein the reaction temperature is from 10* C to 100* C.
 27. A process according to claim 6 wherein the reaction temperature is from 20* C to 70* C.
 28. A process according to claim 6 wherein 1 to 10 moles of cyanamide salt are used per mole of benzofuroxan.
 29. A process according to claim 6 wherein 1.5 to 5 moles of cyanamide salt are used per mole of benzofuroxan.
 30. A process according to claim 6 which comprises treating a benzofuroxan with cyanamide in the presence of at least the stoichiometric amount of a base.
 31. A process according to claim 6 wherein the reaction is carried out in a suitable solvent. 